"Only one thing stirs my emotion. Aku. Soku. Zan. For the sake of my justice alone!"
Hajime Saito
Early the next day
Twenty four hours never dragged on like it had for him this last day. He could hardly sleep, his eyes were bloodshot whether that was from his binge drinking of wine or a lack of sleep was up for debate. Hitomi was somewhere out there, she wasn't well, wasn't being fed. With his luck she'd be in the grip of the Inuzuka and they'd be feeding her to their ninken just for the hell of it. Normally, he had no qualms about hiring the Inuzuka. Cho could always use the money and they were willing to the dirtier deeds than some clans like the Senju.
The room echoed with a light tap, his nail worn from tapping his throne. It had to have been a few hours now since he began to his broken rhythm of tapping the arm of his throne. He was certain that his ace in the hole would be arriving any minute now, his soldier told him that the Subatsu did arrive in the village before nightfall. It seemed Usagi was leading the pack flanked by Ryoku-a man he was extremely afraid of, and Tsugi who he had no fear of but was weary nonetheless. The laid back man was no nonsense and didn't play any games.
"Foot soldier!" The damiyo shouted. "Where is Usagi?"
"Should be here any minute, sir."
The damiyo growled softly, stopping his tapping. He'd have to wait despite his own misgivings of waiting. He never had to wait for anything in his life, he got what he wanted, when he wanted it. There wasn't a debate or conversation about it, it was a simple fact. For those that knew him well, it was a fact and he wasn't and never would think any different. And, just as his soldier said, Usagi swung the doors open to the throne room with Ryoku and Tsugi at her sides with a unit of ten trailing behind them.
"What is the status of the situation?" Usagi asked.
"You'd know if you got here-"
"Watch your tone you fat bastard." Ryoku growled, glaring into his eyes. "We got here yesterday, but we were a bit tired so we stayed at an inn."
"Where is the little lady?" Tsugi asked, steering the conversation forward before Ryoku tore this man's head from his shoulders. That wouldn't be good in any aspect, they were still getting paid for this, and the mission needed to be completed. Even though he was rather pissed that the damiyo would take that tone, he'd overlook this time around. "Do you have a trail? Where was the last place she was located? Do you have any of her clothes?" To the damiyo this may have been nonsense, but for shinobi like them it was extremely crucial, every small detail had to be taken into account.
The damiyo paced away from them. keeping his gaze away from Ryoku who looked like he was ready to kill him. Which wasn't too far off, Ryoku never did like him, not ten years ago, and not now by any means. He reigned in his emotions, it wasn't businesslike for him to be so rude nor proper. "I have no idea..." He replied, raking a hand through his thinning hair. "The last place she was spotted was a quarter mile east, but that was a few weeks ago. She left even after I gave her everything she could ever wish for..." He paused, pouring another glass of wine. "Since then there hasn't been any sight of her and I can only fear for the worst." He sipped on his glass, swallowing briskly. "She is a princess. She doesn't belong out there or have a place out there." He wasn't going to make a retort about shinobi, since eleven were standing in front of him.
Ignoring his frantic speech Usagi spoke. "Could you show us to her room?"
"Of course, of course." The damiyo nodded vigorously, chugging down the rest of his wine and tossing the glass aside. "I'll do anything that helps this along."
"Tsugi-san. Take the unit and scout around, if there is even the faintest sign of a trail she left mark down that area or areas and report back." Usagi instructed, tapping his arm to get his attention as she did so. The first thing they'd need to do is search that area, Hitomi could have left any number of things to trace them back to her current location, if she was still alive.
"Sure thing, kid." Tsugi nodded, casting a gaze at Ryoku who nodded in return. He wouldn't let the damiyo talk out of turn so he didn't need to worry about that. He had an objective and would complete it, the faster they got out of here the better. He nodded to the unit behind him as he swiftly exited the room, their footsteps thudding off into the distance before complete silence fell around them. With hast the damiyo waved them to follow as he lead them through several hallways and a few staircases, the two of them weren't surprised to see everything finely decorated and presented. The damiyo was known for his taste after all.
Finally, after about ten minutes of navigating through the estate the damiyo stopped in front of a rather large door. It was the largest door Usagi and Ryoku had seen and assumed this had to be Hitomi's room, the two didn't utter a word, waiting for the damiyo to open the door. As if debating mentally he finally opened the door, Usagi's eyes widened briefly as she took in the rather spacious room. It was anything a girl could ever wish for from the bed, to the curtains, to the paint, and just everything was perfect. The paint colors were soft, not too bright or bold, but subtle-one could say enchanting. Even though she was a kunoichi and had no need for such trivial things, she could appreciate the finer things in life. "This is quite a room." She commented stepping into it, continuing to gaze around while Ryoku looked around with little interest.
"My thoughts exactly..." The damiyo said as he began to rummage through a closet just a few feet away, tossing yukatas and kimonos alike to the side two, three at a time. He was searching for something specific, Hitomi was rebellious and spunky, one reason why he was just enthralled by her, but that also meant she didn't wear much of what he provided for her. However, there were about a three dozen or show outfits she did wear, buried somewhere in the spacious closet. "I wish that rebellious bitch felt the same way." He muttered to himself, snatching a light green yukata.
"Is that the only thing she wore?" Ryoku asked, examining the yukata carefully. After seeing three dozen or so yukatas being tossed aside, he wanted to say she wore those too. Who wouldn't wear all of these clothes if they were provided? It wasn't as heavy as armor, and it was form fitting. "Surely she has worn more clothes besides just this one yukata." He sighed, it had been a long time since he had to deal with this damiyo, and it wasn't pleasing. Perhaps his drunkenness was the cause of his misinformation towards them.
"She wore this one the most." The damiyo tossed it to Usagi, which she caught promptly examining it carefully. "She wasn't... Pleased with my arrangements and didn't fully indulge in my gifts." As he said this he grabbed about seven more yukatas varying in color of course, they were all vibrant, the damiyo was definitely going out of his way to please her with material possessions.
Usagi inspected the yukatas, narrowing her eyes as she searched for anything from a small piece of hair to a flake of skin. It was drilled into her mind to always expect the unexpected. What nobody else could see she was supposed to see, to be able to see the writing between the lines, between those lines. However, she didn't spot a single hair or flake of skin on any of the yukatas. "This shouldn't take us too long. Considering the Inuzuka didn't already find her." Usagi turned away from the older man, striding towards the door.
"Wait! Where are you going!?" The damiyo chased after her, but was abruptly stopped by Ryoku. The tall man holding out his muscular arm, his eyes boring into the damiyo's.
"If there's any new development we will inform you. However, you being with us while we investigate will only hinder our efforts."
"But-"
"You have a village to run. We'll take care of this." Usagi told him. She was a patient woman, but even his frantic babbling was riding on her nerves, she had more important things to take care of besides coddling this lecherous moron. So with no delay she made her way through the estate with Ryoku, navigating their way through the winding and twisting hallways intricately decorated with paintings of all sorts carrying from flamingos to exotic and powerful dragons. Finally after another ten minutes they were out of the estate, walking down a narrow dirt path. "What do you make of this Ryoku-san?"
"If I were a betting man I'd say he tried to get his hands in her pants and she punched him in the mouth." He replied, chuckling softly. He never met the princess in person, but to punch the damiyo in his mouth took a lot of guts. "I guess I shouldn't expect anything less though from a noble. They have a sense of entitlement from her to the Earth country and back." He nodded once. "My second guess is that she simply wanted nothing to do with him and turned tail and ran the instant she could, again can't really blame her."
"Makes too much sense." Usagi nodded in agreement. From what she read after Syrus debriefed her. The damiyo made it sound like she was an ungrateful wench, robbed him of everything, and then ran away. But, it was turning into the complete opposite the longer she pondered on it. The damiyo was overstepping boundaries that shouldn't be overstepped, you just didn't grope a woman even if she was to be your wife. There had to be a level of modesty and respect, evidently the damiyo had neither of those two. Usagi glanced from side to side, kneading a small amount of chakra into her coils-there just a few hundred yards was Tsugi, stationary. He must have found something.
Their scenery changed from busy shops, bars, and stands to a barren landscape with mountains in the backdrop. The roads weren't smooth like before but covered in small stones-almost like gravel. Tsugi stood in the center of the road with three men flanking him, the other seven were several yards around them still searching for any clues. "Well, what'd you find?" Ryoku asked.
Tsugi held up a single strand of brown hair, it was barely visible and would blow away if it wasn't trapped between his thumb and index finger. He recognized the hair instantly it was like a sore thumb in the bleak road. He seen Hitomi more than enough times to identify this strand of hair as her own compared to some other civilians' hair strand. "Found this about one hundred yards up the road." He indicated to the strand of hair. "The road ends at the same spot and is nothing but wilderness and mountain ranges beyond that point..." He gave Usagi a critical stare, looking over the dozen or so yukatas draped over her shoulder. "You find anything?"
"Just a hunch, but I'm going to need a bit more help." She replied, slamming her hand on the ground. "Kuchiyose Justu!" She shouted, a large cloud of smoke forming around her enveloping her entirely, slowly it faded to reveal a wolf with the whitest shade of fur and yellow magma eyes, it was ripped to the bones its leg and back muscles forming massive striations beneath its thick coat, it was easily bigger than the average Inuzuka ninken-nearly triple. It slowly turned its head taking in its surroundings, his face wrinkling as it snarled.
Usagi? What do you want brat?!" The wolf said in a guttural growl, flicking its eyes towards Tsugi, a look of disdain filling its ghastly eyes. "Oh, the pervert is here too?" It snorted, strolling slowly towards Usagi. "I was just in the middle of a kill, you better have a good reason for summoning me." He glanced at Tsugi. "You stay away from me you might be contagious..."
"I'm not a pervert Daji, you fur ball..." Tsugi scowled at him. "We'll get you three big steaks after this. Would that make you wag your tail?"
"Piss off." The wolf, Daji snorted at the man, ignoring his jab and focusing on Usagi. The person that summoned him in the first place. She held out a green yukata with an expectant but blank expression on her face, he looked from the article of clothing to her, slowly narrowing his eyes. "Damn it, you didn't summon me to sniff clothes did you?! "
"Well, I guess..." Usagi dug het foot in the ground. "I need you to smell these so we can get a read on princess Hitomi."
"What do I care about a snotty noble?" Daji growled, pacing back and forth as low growls rose from the back of its throat showing just how annoyed he was. "I am not a tracker even if I have a good nose, how many times am I going to have to say it!?"
"Daji..." Usagi sghed, she dealt with a lot of attitudes. Haji always fussing over her, Tobirama and his blunt yet cold demeanor, and Syrus constantly making smart remarks. But, Daji had a horrible attitude and she didn't want to deal with it at the moment!
"You crab ass just smell the damn yukata." Ryoku spoke up, staring at Daji. "You'll get an extra steak."
"Patronize me damn it..." Daji growled softly, walking towards Usagi with long purposeful strides sniffing the yukata carefully. He flinched back, a whole heap of some strong perfume flaring into his nostrils making his eyes burn. He stepped away shaking his head while inhaling quickly-it was faint but there were pheromones on that yukata, there was no way he could mistake or look over that. It was a combination of ivory and delicate lilies, subtle yet powerful at the same time. Ignoring the people gathered around him entirely, Daji raised his muzzle sniffing the air, his nostrils narrowing and flaring as he searched their surroundings. "How fast do you need to find this... Whoever this princess is."
"Hitomi." Usagi supplied with a quiet sigh.
"Yeah, yeah." Daji didn't care about the pompous princess's name. "Just answer my question."
"However fast time permits, but it'd be great if we found her today."
"She's quite a distance away..." Daji said, scanning his surroundings. "I can smell those mutts in the distance as well," he'd sink his teeth into one of those Inuzuka's necks. "It could take a while."
"Then we shouldn't waste anymore time." Usagi said, stepping forward. "Let's go."
"It's this way, brat." Daji lunged taking off in a mild run towards her left.
There wasn't anymore arguments or outbursts between them since he pinned her against an abandoned shop's wall away from any onlookers. This pleased him greatly, he didn't like arguing or having to debate. That's not to say he wouldn't go back and forth for hours on end if the subject interested him a great or to be frank pissed him off and he wanted no part of it. Mikito was a firm and adamant woman, she wasn't headstrong-which would piss him off a great deal nor was she submissive which would piss him off as well. She was wise, and patient, but her constant changing and flipping things from how he wanted them to be was infuriating.
Since she swallowed her pride and apologized for lashing out at him the way she did yesterday she had been quiet. When he entered the room she would be absently staring out their window, reading a book-he wasn't sure where she got the book or if she purchased it. Of course, she didn't need to apologize, he didn't need her or anyone else's pity. He had it coming when he slammed her against the wall, he was surprised that she didn't lash out right then and there. A small part of him was perhaps enthralled with the fire he seen in her eyes that moment when he called her strength into question, and she easily snatched her wrist from his hand.
However, now he almost wanted to rile her up like yesterday. She was quiet, she wouldn't mutter a single word to him or look in his direction. It was like she was avoiding him when he couldn't be avoided since they were stuck together in the same room. She'd cast glances his way every so often, and when he would turn to look at her she'd be gazing off at nothing in particular. He was really starting to question how and why she got him so riled up, how he'd play right into it. She didn't do it on purpose, but she had no intention of backing down from him. Was this why he almost got excited when she'd turn her gaze onto him, and seethe in frustration when she'd look away from him or shove her face in her book.
"Mikito..." Madara could swear he said he name at least five hundred times, and five hundred times over she didn't respond. It was cheeky and cute at first, but now it was grating on his nerves. He gave her his full attention whenever she spoke or uttered his name, and he expected the same in return. Regardless, if she was moody or depressed she would pay attention to him! Damn it all to hell... He grunted mentally, folding his arms over his chest as if to restrain his growing annoyance with her silent treatment. She didn't respond, or look at him. "Mikito..." He repeated, voice getting more firm riddled with impatience.
"Yes, Madara?" She asked. Taking her focus off of her book for a moment and gazing at him before returning it quickly to her book. She rarely lashed out the way she did yesterday, she prided herself on staying composed and kind. She didn't raise her voice, she didn't yell or lash out, but she had her limits. She was still human despite her prowess, she could only handle so much. Being shoved into the wall should have been the last straw, how dare Madara put his hands on her like that! But, it wasn't she could understand his frustration and need to vent, but calling her strength into question she couldn't just let that go.
"Oh, so now you decide to answer me?" He asked testily, growling in anger. Like before she didn't look at him, just continued reading, but she did nod her head showing that she was listening to him-at least heard him. He stood up from his bed, marching over to her perch, and with no regard smacked the book from her hand where it thudded on the floor. "Look at me when I'm talking to you."
"I wasn't done with that page." Mikito looked up at him her face passive, not showing any emotion in particular. She stared into his own visible eye just as he wanted waiting for him to speak. "I may have lost my place in the book, actually." She added, pursing her lips.
"I don't give a damn about your book!" Madara snapped, hovering over her, furrowing his brows. He was being incredibly patent with her. He felt like he was giving her special treatment anybody else would be on their ass with a broken jaw and maybe a finger or two. He didn't want to hear Izuna in his ear going on about his temper, and how he needed to be more considerate and polite since Mikito was their comrade and they needed her. "'I've been sitting her saying your name for the last three hours and all you do is just ignore me! You hum you little hum or look at me for a second! I demand your full attention when I am speaking. I want you to respond to me when I am talking." Pausing to regain his breath he searched her face for any emotion, and was surprised to see confusion and something else he couldn't put his finger on. "Why are you not talking to me?"
"I don't want to fight or argue anymore." Mikito replied earnestly, irises shimmering as she leaned closer. "It doesn't do us any good to be at each other's throats all day every day. We're comrades..." She fell silent not sure what else to say. She was telling the truth, that's why she had been quiet this entire time only looking at him for a few seconds at a time. "I don't want to argue anymore with you... We're comrades, I just want to be..." She fell silent again, looking uncomfortable.
"Want what?"
"I just want to be friends."
Madara staggered back in shock, the bag of his leg colliding with his bed causing him to fall back first onto it. If he had been expecting her response he could ave regained his balance, but her answer wasn't what he was expecting, nor was her expression. It was so honest and open, incredibly sincere, her voice didn't waver as she spoke nor did her eyes tick, she was serious. He took a second to gather himself, sitting up, his one eye boring into both of hers. "You mean to tell me you've been ignoring me since yesterday and three hours today because you want to be friends!? Because you don't want to argue or yell?" His voice rose before he even realized it.
"I'll leave you alone." Mikito stood up pacing towards the door.
"Wait!" Madara snatched her by the wrist, gently but firmly nothing like yesterday.
"Well, what?" Mikito looked exhausted. "What Madara?"
"Listen to me." He pulled her towards him, to his surprise Mikito didn't resist, though she continued to scowl at him. "You're right..." It was difficult for him to say, but she did have a point they were comrades, and she was sincere. He also reasoned since she wasn't going to drop this point he'd miles well agree just to advance things. "We are comrades, and you're right. Us arguing doesn't do our clans any good. But, don't expect me to fall in line with everything you say. I have my own way of doing things and I have no intention to change that."
Mikito nodded, taking note of their close proximity. "Thank you Madara." She tried to fight off a smile, but failed-miserably so. "I wouldn't expect you to fall in line with everything I say, or even listen to me for that matter." She glanced out the window, sensing Hikaku and Mitsuki making their way back to them. "We should go and make sure everything is squared away and that Mitsuki-san and Hikaku-san are ready."
"You are so damn stubborn." Madara felt himself sigh, but chuckle softly. All of this and they'd finally get this show on the road "I do concede with your point though. Let's make sure everything is clear, then we can take care of these pests and get the hell out of here."
Hikaku stood with a stoic expression dressed in his war time attire. Like all of his kinsmen he wore a high collar shirt, armor protecting his groin, upper tights, shoulders, chest, backside, and wrists. On both sides of his utility belt was a sword ready to be drawn in an instant. Hikaku remained standing, staring at Mitsuki as the older girl tied her thick and long hair up into a side ponytail, folding the hem of her dark blue haori her clan's symbol stitched on the bottom of the sleeves in an overlapping pattern and on the middle of her back. She wore dark gray armor a sharp contrast to his dark red, it guarded her back side, crotch, and her upper thighs-almost resembling a skirt. Dark gray Hakama, white tabi, and white zori completed her outfit.
"Are you ready?" Mikito asked stepping into view.
"Ready and willing." Mitsuki retorted, turning her eyes onto Hikaku. "What about you?"
"I am prepared." Hikaku said softly with a nod, turning his focus from Mikito to Madara. "We'll scout out the area six miles from here-recent reports show that there is a high concentration of battles between the Hageshii and Tachibana in that area. It is the best place for us to search and find anything that is leading up to them attacking this village in the chaos of their battle."
Madara nodded, leveling a look with Hikaku. "You've went over this with Izuna?"
Hikaku nodded. "Izuna and Mitsuki-san." He nodded towards the older woman.
"I see." He trusted Izuna's judgment on the situation even if he could be a bit annoying at times. When it came to strategy and executing plans Izuna was all business. "I expect to hear from you in the next twenty four to forty eight hours."
"Understood."
"Also, if there are any flaws in their perimeters be sure to take note of those." Mikito added.
"You can count on me!" Mitsuki replied. "Well, no more time to waste here. Come on, Hikaku-san!"
"Right." The younger man nodded running after her.
"So..." Izuna's voice brought the two leaders back to reality, both of them thinking over several scenarios. Madara glanced at Izuna with mild annoyance, if he knew anything to by with that tone he'd bet Izuna was in another one of his moods. "How are you two feeling?"
"I'm feeling a bit restless..." Mikito replied, feeling her stomach jumping with anticipation. "Thanks for asking Izuna-san."
"Should have went with my plan." Madara retorted, folding his arms over his chest and fixing Izuna and Mikito with a serious stare. "I'm fine, what do you want Izuna?"
"Well, the damiyo wishes to speak with you and Mikito-san." Izuna said looking a bit sheepish as he answered the question.
"About what?" Mikito asked, a frown adorning her face. "I don't have time to waste listening to him babble about nothing." She could think of a million better things to do-that she was about to do rather than speaking with that snake.
"We have nothing better to do." Madara shrugged with indifference. "Better than sitting around here doing nothing."
"I was going to start a patrol of the village." Mikito almost snapped, but kept herself restrained, smiling slightly. "As the saying goes if you want to find something it's better to start from the source."
Madara frowned. "Then why did we sent out Hikaku and Mitsuki!?"
"Guys you can finish your argument later." Izuna sighed, gesturing for them to follow after him.
Hardly an argument... Mikito thought scowling towards Madara. She'd be quiet for now only because Izuna asked. "Let's just get this conversation over with..."
"Let's just see what this noble wants..." Madara sighed sure he wasn't going to like something that came out of his mouth.
"That's better!" Izuna smiled at them. "Now you're thinking like a team.